Monsoon covers entire country 6 days ahead of normal date despite late start

The Southwest Monsoon covered the entire country on July 2, a good 6 days ahead of its normal date of July 8, according to India Meteorological Department.

The monsoon further advanced into remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab on 2nd July which completes the coverage of the entire country, the weather office said.

This would provide a huge relief to India’s policymakers. Sowing of grains including rice and ragi millet, soyabean and pulses has already begun as per schedule. And now the rains will further boost the farm sector as irrigation of about 60 per cent of the net sown area is dependent on monsoons. A bad monsoon could therefore have a brutal impact on India’s economic recovery pushing up food prices and overall inflation and impacting food security.

About 60 per cent of the rice sowing in India takes place during the Kharif season. The remaining production of rice takes place during the Rabi cycle in the winter months.

Although the onset of the monsoon was delayed this year as it had first hit the Kerala coast on June 8 which was a week after the normal date of June 1, it has since accelerated and covered entire India in 25 days.

The Southwest Monsoon normally starts on June 1 when it strikes the Kerala coast and takes 38 days to cover the entire country.

The weather office has forecast:

*Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over parts of south Peninsular India during the next 5 days.

*Isolated heavy to heavy rainfall also likely over South Interior Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala during next 5 days; over Coastal Andhra Pradesh 3rd to 5th July

*Extremely heavy rainfall over Coastal & South Interior Karnataka on 4th and over Kerala on 4th & 5th July.

*Isolated very heavy rainfall also likely over Telangana on 4th & 5th; over Rayalaseema 3rd to 5th; over North Interior Karnataka 4th & 6th and over

*West India: Light/moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated Heavy to very Heavy rainfall is very likely over Konkan & Goa and Ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra during next 5 days and Gujarat State on 2nd & 6th July.